As of 06th April 2022, Sewa Canada International, with help of donors, volunteers, partners and provincial/local relief agencies has raised & provided C$ 26,500, of aid/relief to victims of BC floods in November and December 2021, in disaster hit areas of Southern British Columbia. Scroll down further for details and updates of our work, videos and pictures. 100% of funds raised were transferred to the work on the ground.
Torrential rains swamped rivers and farmland across southern B.C.. This triggered mudslides that blocked every major highway connecting the Lower Mainland to the rest of the country. Many tens of thousands abandoned their homes and thousands, 5 people died, thousands of animals died. To know more about this disaster unfolding in British Columbia, click here.
- non-perishable food items
- medicines
- new warm clothes/ blankets
- water bottles
- tents, electric heaters
- other essential items as deemed necessary in the course of our work.
We procured and airlifted essential items by helicopter and had our volunteers in these locations distribute them to the affected people. A team from Calgary, Alberta procured and drove a truckload of relief materials to Merritt, BC in very hazardous conditions. Scroll down for pictures and detailed updates from the ground
Update #11 on 25th December 2021
BC Floods – On 23rd December, volunteers from our Calgary chapter delivered CAD$ 10,000 of aid to severely flood impacted City of Merritt, BC. Our volunteers drove a total of 1400 Kms from Calgary to Merritt and back in severe winter conditions, over 2 days, including road closures due to Avalanche warnings.
Update #10 on 23rd December 2021
Guru Nanak Food Bank BC & Sewa Canada International volunteers worked in collaboration, to collect and provide emergency food relief to the victims. To know more about Guru Nanak Food Bank, visit https://www.gnfb.ca/
Update #9 on 22nd December 2021
Our youth volunteers at Calgary and other volunteers procures required essentials (based on a list provided by local city authorities) from Costco, totaling about CAD $10,000 for flood victims returning to the badly effected and evacuated city of Merritt, BC. They are currently enroute from Calgary, AB to Merritt BC – a 800 Kilometre drive in winter conditions
Update #8 on 13th December 2021
Update #7 on 7th December 2021
Flood warnings and evacuation alerts remain in place as British Columbia looks towards ways to rebuild. Mudslides and extensive waters have damaged highways and disrupted transportation routes. This week our volunteers on the ground in Kelowna have continued to procure and distribute essentials as required by the food banks and city officials in Kelowna, Merritt and Princeton. They have also been fundraising in Kelowna to help us do more. The Summerland Hindu Temple made an initial donation of CAD$ 1,000. More donations are expected this week from their donation drive. The Yellow Cab Union has also generously donated essentials for Merritt. Also procured 100 School bag kits (filled with essentials for children returning to school), for distribution to the needy shortly
Update #6 on 1st December 2021
Essentials needs & food for those in need loaded up by our volunteers in Vancouver, in a van destined to for flood effected Abbotsford, BC. The shipment will be handed over to the Abbotsford Hindu Mandir, who will distribute it to the needy in the flood impacted areas of Abbotsford.
Update #5 on 30th November 2021
Most of these donations will make its way to Abbotsford tomorrow by road. Abbotsford has been hit by floods again, today. The rest will be dispatched to Merritt, BC, if we can get them on a flight on Thursday.
Update #4 on 29th November 2021
200 pounds of Royal Canin Pet Food procured by Sewa Canada International was handed over to BC SPCA (BCSPCA) at their Vancouver branch, by our volunteers today, for distribution in Flood effected areas of BC, to feed animals in need & distress, that they are caring for in these difficult times.
- HSS
- NAHA
- Abbotsford Temple
- Laxmi Narayan Temple
- Shree Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple
- Kelowna Hindu Cultural Society
- BKSP( Bhartya Kala Evam Sahitya Parishad)